Trace-detacher



(No Model.) 7 I J. D. .BLAKEMAN.

TRAGE DETAGHER. No. 286,767. Patented Oct. 16, 1883.

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JOHN D. BLAKEMAN, or SMITHS onovn, KENTUCKY.

TRACE-DETACH ER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 286,767, dated October 16, 1883.

' Application filed June 12,1883. (no meat-1.;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN DANIEL BLAKE- MAN, of Smiths Grove, in the county of -Warren and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trace-Detaching Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to the class of whiffle tree-hooks which are adapted to be operated by the driver to detach the traces, and thus unhiteh thevehicle from the horse in casethe latter runs away.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a whiflletree, showing my invention. Fig. 2 is a section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional view, showing a modification.

A indicates the guard, which is pivoted in the ferrule O, and B is the tracedetaching arm, pivoted to a projection, a, on the inner end of the guard, to adapt it to be moved outward longitudinally when the guard is drawn back by means of a strap or chain,'which is to be attached to the eye b. This genera-l arrangement has been used heretofore; but various objections exist to the arrangement of the retracting-spring for holding the device in its normal position. A coil-spring has been arranged around the arm B; but this requires an open or slotted ferrule to accommodate the spring, and the exposure of the spring to mud and ice renders it inoperative. Again, the guard and arm have been arranged on the outside of the ferrule, and provided with a springcatch for holding said parts in normal posir tion, and a'lever for depressing the catch to allow the parts to be operated to detach the trace. I desire, however to locate the guard and arm within the ferrule, to secure a neat and smooth appearance to the whiffletree, and to dispense with the use of a lever for actuating the spring, to allow the guard to be properly operated. I therefore form the ferrule G with a groove, 0, in one side, to accommodate the guard A and arm B, leaving the main portion 0' of the iron solid, tosecure greater strength, and form a slot. D, in the opposite side of the ferrule, which gradually widens as it extends to and communicates with the groove 0. D is secured. a flat spring, E, which bears against the projection a on the inner end of the guard A, to hold the latter in its normal position. The attached end of this spring is arranged outside the ferrule, where it can be easily reached in case the spring should break and a new one should be necessary. The old spring can thus be removed and a new one put in its place by any driver, and without disturbing the other parts of the device.

Instead of using the flat spring E, the proj ection a, may be formed in the shape of a pin, F, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a spiral spring, G, arranged thereon and adapted to be compressed by contact with the eccentric base H when the guard is drawnback.

In the slot b This base may be formed with a slot, through which the pin F projects. In this case the arm B may be arranged on the opposite side of the ferrule from the guard A, and accommodated in a groove formed therein. The spiral spring is thus adapted to operate upon the guard in the same manner as the flat spring,

while, being entirely inclosed in the ferrule, it is protected from mud and ice.

What I claim is- 1. The combination of the traceguard, the trace-detaching arm pivoted to the inner end of the guard, the ferrule having a trausi'erse slot, and the spring arranged in said slot and adapted to bear against the inner end of the guard to force it to and hold it in closed position, substantiallyas shownand described.

2. The combination of the guard A, the trace-detaching arm B, the ferrule 0, having the slot D, and the spring E, arranged in said slot to bear against the inner end of the guard, and having its outer end secured to the outer surface of the ferrule, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

J OHN D. BLAKEMAN. Vitnesses: 1 A. G. LYNE,

SoLoN O. KEMON. 

